Commands For Mac Os Terminal

Hidden behind beautiful Mac screens is the world of Terminal Command lines. Knowing how to use these commands will help you increase your work efficiency in a great way.

Below is a list of the most basic commands divided by purpose of use:

Commands For Mac Os Terminal

Just like Windows, Mac also comes with its own command prompt line interface, Terminal application (Unix commands). Learning about the Terminal app could come in handy and will help you go deep in Mac OS settings with ease. Not only this, there are other reasons too. One of the coolest ways to get familiar with the Terminal is to use it to open files. Terminal (officially called Terminal.app) is, strictly speaking, an emulator and works off most typical UNIX commands (OS X is a UNIX-based system, as opposed to Windows, which is NT-based). Unlike OS X, which has a graphical user interface (shortened to GUI), Terminal works off a text-based interface and all commands have to be typed in - this. View Hidden Files & Folders. As with Windows, macOS hides all folders which are essential to the. Terminal (officially called Terminal.app) is, strictly speaking, an emulator and works off most typical UNIX commands (OS X is a UNIX-based system, as opposed to Windows, which is NT-based). Unlike OS X, which has a graphical user interface (shortened to GUI), Terminal works off a text-based interface and all commands have to be typed in - this.

CORE COMMANDS

Key/CommandDescription
cd [folder]Change directory e.g. cd Documents
cdHome directory
cd ~Home directory
cd /Root of drive
cd –Previous directory
lsShort listing
ls -lLong listing
ls -aListing incl. hidden files
ls -lhLong listing with Human readable file sizes
ls -REntire content of folder recursively
sudo [command]Run command with the security privileges of the superuser (Super User DO)
open [file]Opens a file ( as if you double clicked it )
topDisplays active processes. Press q to quit
nano [file]Opens the file using the nano editor
vim [file]Opens the file using the vim editor
clearClears the screen
resetResets the terminal display

CHAINING COMMANDS

Key/CommandDescription
[command-a]; [command-b]Run command A and then B, regardless of success of A
[command-a] && [command-b]Run command B if A succeeded
[command-a] || [command-b]Run command B if A failed
[command-a] &Run command A in background

PIPING COMMANDS

Key/CommandDescription
[command-a] | [command-b]Run command A and then pass the result to command B e.g ps auxwww | grep google

COMMAND HISTORY

Commands For Mac Os Terminal

Key/CommandDescription
history nShows the stuff typed – add a number to limit the last n items
Ctrl + rInteractively search through previously typed commands
![value]Execute the last command typed that starts with ‘value’
![value]:pPrint to the console the last command typed that starts with ‘value’
!!Execute the last command typed
!!:pPrint to the console the last command typed

FILE MANAGEMENT

Key/CommandDescription
touch [file]Create a new file
pwdFull path to working directory
.Current folder, e.g. ls .
..Parent/enclosing directory, e.g. ls ..
ls -l ..Long listing of parent directory
cd ../../Move 2 levels up
catConcatenate to screen
rm [file]Remove a file, e.g. rm data.tmp
rm -i [file]Remove with confirmation
rm -r [dir]Remove a directory and contents
rm -f [file]Force removal without confirmation
cp [file] [newfile]Copy file to file
cp [file] [dir]Copy file to directory
mv [file] [new filename]Move/Rename, e.g. mv file1.ad /tmp
pbcopy < [file]Copies file contents to clipboard
pbpastePaste clipboard contents
pbpaste > [file]Paste clipboard contents into file, pbpaste > paste-test.txt

DIRECTORY MANAGEMENT

Useful Terminal Commands Mac

Key/CommandDescription
mkdir [dir]Create new directory
mkdir -p [dir]/[dir]Create nested directories
rmdir [dir]Remove directory ( only operates on empty directories )
rm -R [dir]Remove directory and contents
less [file]Output file content delivered in screensize chunks
[command] > [file]Push output to file, keep in mind it will get overwritten
[command] >> [file]Append output to existing file
[command] < [file]Tell command to read content from a file

SEARCH

Key/CommandDescription
find [dir] -name [search_pattern]Search for files, e.g. find /Users -name 'file.txt'
grep [search_pattern] [file]Search for all lines that contain the pattern, e.g. grep 'Tom' file.txt
grep -r [search_pattern] [dir]Recursively search in all files in specified directory for all lines that contain the pattern
grep -v [search_pattern] [file]Search for all lines that do NOT contain the pattern
grep -i [search_pattern] [file]Search for all lines that contain the case-insensitive pattern
mdfind [search_pattern]Spotlight search for files (names, content, other metadata), e.g. mdfind skateboard
mdfind -onlyin [dir] -name [pattern]Spotlight search for files named like pattern in the given directory

HELP

Key/CommandDescription
[command] -hOffers help
[command] –helpOffers help
info [command]Offers help
man [command]Show the help manual for [command]
whatis [command]Gives a one-line description of [command]
apropos [search-pattern]Searches for command with keywords in description

If you’re working in Terminal on your Mac, you need to know the most important UNIX commands: those that work with directories, those that work with files, and miscellaneous but commonly used commands.

Folders are called directories in UNIX. Commands that refer to filenames, as most do, assume that you’re talking about files in the working directory. When you open the Terminal window, the working directory is set to your home directory, abbreviated ~. Bash shows you the current working directory and your username to the left of its prompt. The following table lists common directory-related commands.

UNIX Directory Commands
CommandWhat It Does
lsLists the names of the files in the working directory. For more
complete information, use ls –alF (.
cd directorynameChanges the working directory to the one you named.
cd ..Brings you up one directory level.
cdReturns you to your home directory.
pwdDisplays the pathname of the current directory.
mkdir newdirectorynameMakes a new directory.
rmdir directorynameRemoves (deletes) an empty directory.

As in Windows, you can redirect the output of a command to a text file. So if you want a record of the files in a folder, type cd, followed by a space, drag the folder’s icon to the Terminal window, and press Return. Type ls > mydirectorylist.txt and press Return again. A file named mydirectorylist.txt will appear in the folder you chose. You can open the file in TextEdit to see a list of the files in that directory.

This table lists commands commonly used when working with files in the Terminal window.

Working with Files
CommandWhat It Does
cp filename1 filename2Copies a file.
chmodChanges permissions for access to a file. Study the man page
before using this one.
diffCompares two files line by line (assumes text).
more filenameDisplays a text file one page at a time. Press the spacebar to
see the next page; press Q to quit. The man command works through
more.
mv filename1 filename2Moves a file or changes its name.
rm filenameRemoves (deletes) a file.

This last table explains other handy commands that anyone getting started in Terminal will likely want to know.

Miscellaneous Commands
CommandWhat It Does
Control+CTerminates most operations.
dateDisplays the current date and time.
echoRepeats whatever appears after the command (after
expansion).
helpDisplays a partial list of bash commands.
historyDisplays the last commands you typed. You can redo a command by
typing an exclamation point (!) followed immediately (no space) by
the number of that command in the history list. To repeat the last
command, type !!. To repeat the last filename, type
!*.
picoA simple UNIX text editor.
psDisplays a list of running processes.
sudoLets you carry out commands for which the account you are using
lacks authority. You will be asked for an administrator’s
password.

When you’re working in Terminal, you don’t have a Trash Can to which deleted files are moved pending ultimate disposal. Delete it, and it’s gone. In general, UNIX has no Undo function.